STEP students explore Andalusia’s Muslim heritage

The STEP C-18 cohort travelled to Cordoba, Madinat al-Zahra, and Granada. Students reflect on pluralism, beauty, and what it means to learn about historical events in the places where they occurred.

STEP student teachers at the Mirador de San Nicolas, with the Alhambra and city of Granada behind them in 2026

Hindustani vocalist Pandit Sandip Bhattacharjee visits IIS

One of the leading voices of the Kirānā gharānā visited the Aga Khan Centre at the invitation of the South Asian Studies Unit at IIS.

Pandit Sandip Bhattacharjee, fourth from left, with guests and IIS staff at the Aga Khan

From a Fatimid cemetery to al-Azhar Park

GPISH alumnus Hidoyatullo Shozodamamadov traces a Fatimid burial site’s fall into ruin and its rebirth, centuries later, as Cairo’s al-Azhar Park.

Brass and glass lanterns hanging around a stone archway leading into a covered market lane in Khan al-Khalili, Cairo.

About us

The Institute of Ismaili Studies, established in 1977, is a higher education, research and teaching institution dedicated to high-quality scholarship and education on Islam and Muslim societies, with a particular focus on Ismaili and broader Shiʿi studies, encompassing their historical and geographical contexts.

Students gathered outdoors, laughing together while reading a book.

Graduate studies

We currently offer two graduate programmes that attract students from Ismaili communities worldwide.

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Short Courses

Our Short Courses introduce participants to social, cultural, and civilisational approaches to the study of Islam and Muslim societies, with a particular focus on Ismaili contexts.

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Library study space at The Institute of Ismaili Studies for Dissertation Writing Scholarship Applicants

Scholarship and Fellowship

The Institute offers several scholarship and fellowship programmes to suitable candidates with a focus on Islamic studies or other areas of interest to IIS.

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Discover our research

Research at IIS seeks to contribute to the field of Islamic studies in general, with a particular focus on Shiʿi and Ismaili studies.

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Explore our publications

The Institute of Ismaili Studies publishes works by its own scholars as well as from the academic community outside the Institute.

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Podcast

Voices of IIS with Qudsia Shah

In this episode Qudsia Shah reflects on her journey from development work in Pakistan to constituency studies at IIS.

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Qudsia Shah seated at a table speaking into a studio microphone during a podcast recording.

Talks and Lectures

Contemporary Trends in Sharia virtual launch

Watch the virtual launch of Contemporary Trends in Sharia, where Dr Fatima Dhanani discusses the book chapter by chapter with authors Dr Hadi Enayat and Dr Mohamed Keshavjee.

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Three people in seated conversation during the virtual launch of Contemporary Trends in Sharia.

Video

Story Time: The King and the Mouse

Watch Ziyana Govindji read through The King and the Mouse, a fable from Kalila wa Dimna adapted by Professor Zayn Kassam. A trapped flock, a loyal mouse, and a king who puts his people first.